Abstract
Video games are becoming increasingly popular as a leisure activity across different age groups and societies. Although research on video game effects has found a wide range of positive and negative effects associated to video game play, the present chapter will critically evaluate evidence supporting the potential addictive effects stemming from excessive video game play. This chapter aims to contribute to the debate on a controversial effect that affects a minority of gamers. This is particularly important and timely since video game addiction is currently being considered as a tentative disorder by different medical bodies such as the American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization. The present chapter summarizes some of the key arguments supporting video game addiction as a potential psychiatric disorder by considering the following sources of scientific evidence: theoretical, empirical, and clinical evidence. Based on the evidence examined, it is concluded that while video game addiction remains controversial at best, preliminary evidence exists suggesting that video game addiction may be a feasible concept and a potential mental health disorder even though several limitations in the existing research have been found and that far more research into this issue is needed. The implications of these findings are further discussed within the chapter.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aarseth, E., Bean, A. M., Boonen, H., Colder, C. M., Coulson, M., Das, D., … Van Rooij, A. J. (2016). Scholars’ open debate paper on the World Health Organization ICD-11 gaming disorder proposal. Journal of Behavioral Addictions., 6, 267. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.088
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author.
American Society of Addiction Medicine. (2017). Definition of addiction. Retrieved from: https://www.asam.org/resources/definition-of-addiction.
Andreassen, C. S., Griffiths, M. D., Hetland, J. H., & Pallesen, S. (2012). Development of a work addiction scale. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 53(3), 265–272. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9450.2012.00947.x
Andreassen, C. S., Griffiths, M. D., Pallesen, S., Bilder, R. M., Torsheim, T., & Aboujaoude, E. (2015). The Bergen shopping addiction scale: Reliability and validity of a brief screening test. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1374. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01374
Atroszko, P. A., Andreassen, C. S., Griffiths, M. D., & Pallesen, S. (2015). Study addiction – A new area of psychological study: Conceptualization, assessment, and preliminary empirical findings. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 4(2), 75–84. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.4.2015.007
Baer, S., Saran, K., & Green, D. A. (2012). Computer/gaming station use in youth: Correlations among use, addiction and functional impairment. Paediatrics & Child Health, 17(8), 427–431.
Baggio, S., Studer, J., Dupuis, M., Mohler-Kuo, M., Daeppen, J. B., & Gmel, G. (2015). Pathological video game use among young Swiss men: The use of monothetic and polythetic formats to distinguish between pathological, excessive and normal gaming. Journal of Addictive Behaviors, Therapy & Rehabilitation, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.4172/2324-9005.1000133
Basak, C., Boot, W. R., Voss, M. W., & Kramer, A. F. (2008). Can training in a real-time strategy video game attenuate cognitive decline in older adults? Psychology and Aging, 23(4), 765–777. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0013494
Billieux, J., Schimmenti, A., Khazaal, Y., Maurage, P., & Heeren, A. (2015). Are we overpathologizing everyday life? A tenable blueprint for behavioral addiction research. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 4, 119. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.4.2015.009
Brown, R. I. F. (1993). Some contributions of the study of gambling to the study of other addictions. In W. R. Eadington & J. A. Cornelius (Eds.), Gambling behavior and problem gambling (pp. 241–272). Reno, NV: University of Nevada Press.
Brunborg, G. S., Hanss, D., Mentzoni, R. A., & Pallesen, S. (2015). Core and peripheral criteria of video game addiction in the game addiction scale for adolescents. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(5), 280–285. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0509
Brunborg, G. S., Mentzoni, R. A., & Frøyland, L. R. (2014). Is video gaming, or video game addiction, associated with depression, academic achievement, heavy episodic drinking, or conduct problems? Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 3(1), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.3.2014.002
Carras, M. C., Van Rooij, A. J., Van de Mheen, D., Musci, R., Xue, Q. L., & Mendelson, T. (2017). Video gaming in a hyperconnected world: A cross-sectional study of heavy gaming, problematic gaming symptoms, and online socializing in adolescents. Computers in Human Behavior, 68, 472–479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.11.060
Dong, G., DeVito, E. E., Du, X., & Cui, Z. (2012). Impaired inhibitory control in 'Internet addiction disorder': A functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 203(2–3), 153–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscychresns.2012.02.001
Dong, G., & Potenza, M. N. (2014). A cognitive-behavioral model of internet gaming disorder: Theoretical underpinnings and clinical implications. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 58, 7–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.07.005
Eichenbaum, A., Kattner, F., Bradford, D., Gentile, D. A., & Green, C. S. (2015). Role-playing and real-time strategy games associated with greater probability of internet gaming disorder. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(8), 480–485. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0092
Eickhoff, E., Yung, K., Davis, D. L., Bishop, F., Klam, W. P., & Doan, A. P. (2015). Excessive video game use, sleep deprivation, and poor work performance among U.S. marines treated in a military mental health clinic: A case series. Military Medicine, 180(7), e839–e843. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00654
Entertainment Software Association. (2017). 2017 essential facts about the computer and video game industry. Retrieved from Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://www.theesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/EF2017_Design_FinalDigital.pdf
Fauth-Bühler, M., & Mann, K. (2017). Neurobiological correlates of internet gaming disorder: Similarities to pathological gambling. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 349–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2015.11.004
Festl, R., Scharkow, M., & Quandt, T. (2013). Problematic computer game use among adolescents, younger and older adults. Addiction, 108(3), 592–599. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12016
Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. M. E. (2013). The benefits of playing video games. American Psychologist, 69(1), 66–78. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034857
Griffith, J. L., Voloschin, P., Gibb, G. D., & Bailey, J. R. (1983). Differences in eye-hand motor coordination of video-game users and non-users. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 57(1), 155–158. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1983.57.1.155
Griffiths, M. D. (1995). Technological addictions. Clinical Psychology Forum, 76, 14–19.
Griffiths, M. D. (1996). Behavioural addiction: An issue for everybody? Employee Counselling Today, 8(3), 19–25. https://doi.org/10.1108/13665629610116872
Griffiths, M. D. (2005). A ‘components’ model of addiction within a biopsychosocial framework. Journal of Substance Use, 10(4), 191–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659890500114359
Griffiths, M. D. (2010). The role of context in online gaming excess and addiction: Some case study evidence. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8(1), 119–125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-009-9229-x
Griffiths, M. D., & Davies, M. N. O. (2005). Videogame addiction: Does it exist? In J. Raessens & J. Goldstein (Eds.), Handbook of computer game studies (pp. 359–368). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
Griffiths, M. D., Király, O., Pontes, H. M., & Demetrovics, Z. (2015). An overview of problematic gaming. In E. Aboujaoude & V. Starcevic (Eds.), Mental health in the digital age: Grave dangers, great promise (pp. 27–45). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Griffiths, M. D., Kuss, D. J., Lopez-Fernandez, O., & Pontes, H. M. (2017). Problematic gaming exists and is an example of disordered gaming: Commentary on: Scholars’ open debate paper on the World Health Organization ICD-11 gaming disorder proposal (Aarseth et al.). Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 296–301. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.037
Griffiths, M. D., Kuss, D. J., & Pontes, H. M. (2016). A brief overview of internet gaming disorder and its treatment. Australian Clinical Psychologist, 2(1), 1–12.
Griffiths, M. D., & Pontes, H. M. (2014). Internet addiction disorder and internet gaming disorder are not the same. Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy, 5(4), e124. https://doi.org/10.4172/2155-6105.1000e124
Griffiths, M. D., Van Rooij, A. J., Kardefelt-Winther, D., Starcevic, V., Király, O., Pallesen, S., … Demetrovics, Z. (2016). Working towards an international consensus on criteria for assessing Internet Gaming Disorder: A critical commentary on Petry et al. (2014). Addiction, 111(1), 167–175. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.13057
Han, D. H., Hwang, J. W., & Renshaw, P. F. (2010). Bupropion sustained release treatment decreases craving for video games and cue-induced brain activity in patients with internet video game addiction. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 18(4), 297. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0020023
Henchoz, Y., Studer, J., Deline, S., N’Goran, A. A., Baggio, S., & Gmel, G. (2016). Video gaming disorder and sport and exercise in emerging adulthood: A longitudinal study. Behavioral Medicine, 42(2), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2014.965127
Howard, C. J., Wilding, R., & Guest, D. (2016). Light video game play is associated with enhanced visual processing of rapid serial visual presentation targets. Perception, 46, 161. https://doi.org/10.1177/0301006616672579
Keepers, G. A. (1990). Pathological preoccupation with video games. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(1), 49–50. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199001000-00009
King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., & Griffiths, M. D. (2010). Video game structural characteristics: A new psychological taxonomy. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 8(1), 90–106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-009-9206-4
King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., Griffiths, M. D., & Gradisar, M. (2011). Assessing clinical trials of internet addiction treatment: A systematic review and CONSORT evaluation. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(7), 1110–1116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2011.06.009
King, D. L., Delfabbro, P. H., Wu, A. M. S., Doh, Y. Y., Kuss, D. J., Pallesen, S., … Sakuma, H. (2017). Treatment of internet gaming disorder: An international systematic review and CONSORT evaluation. Clinical Psychology Review, 54, 123–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2017.04.002
King, D. L., Haagsma, M. C., Delfabbro, P. H., Gradisar, M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2013). Toward a consensus definition of pathological video-gaming: A systematic review of psychometric assessment tools. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(3), 331–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2013.01.002
Király, O., & Demetrovics, Z. (2017). Inclusion of gaming disorder in ICD has more advantages than disadvantages. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 280–284. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.046
Klein, M. H. (1984). The bite of Pac-Man. The Journal of Psychohistory, 11(3), 395.
Kuczmierczyk, A. R., Walley, P. B., & Calhoun, K. S. (1987). Relaxation training, in vivo exposure and response-prevention in the treatment of compulsive video-game playing. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 16(4), 185–190. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506078709455801
Kuss, D. J., Griffiths, M. D., & Pontes, H. M. (2017). Chaos and confusion in DSM-5 diagnosis of internet gaming disorder: Issues, concerns, and recommendations for clarity in the field. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(2), 103–109. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.062
Kuss, D. J., Shorter, G. W., Van Rooij, A. J., Van de Mheen, D., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014). The internet addiction components model and personality: Establishing construct validity via a nomological network. Computers in Human Behavior, 39, 312–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.07.031
Laffan, D. A., Greaney, J., Barton, H., & Kaye, L. K. (2016). The relationships between the structural video game characteristics, video game engagement and happiness among individuals who play video games. Computers in Human Behavior, 65, 544–549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.09.004
Lee, H. (2004). A new case of fatal pulmonary thromboembolism associated with prolonged sitting at computer in Korea. Yonsei Medical Journal, 45(2), 349–351. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2004.45.2.349
Lehenbauer-Baum, M., Klaps, A., Kovacovsky, Z., Witzmann, K., Zahlbruckner, R., & Stetina, B. U. (2015). Addiction and engagement: An explorative study toward classification criteria for internet gaming disorder. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(6), 343–349. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0063
Lemmens, J. S., & Hendriks, S. J. F. (2016). Addictive online games: Examining the relationship between game genres and internet gaming disorder. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 19(4), 270–276. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2015.0415
Li, W., Garland, E. L., O’Brien, J. E., Tronnier, C., McGovern, P., Anthony, B., & Howard, M. O. (2017). Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement for video game addiction in emerging adults: Preliminary findings from case reports. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9765-8
Lin, X., Dong, G., Wang, Q., & Du, X. (2015). Abnormal gray matter and white matter volume in ‘internet gaming addicts’. Addictive Behaviors, 40, 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.09.010
Lin, X., Jia, X., Zang, Y.-F., & Dong, G. (2015). Frequency-dependent changes in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in internet gaming disorder. Frontiers in Psychology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01471
Liu, J., Li, W., Zhou, S., Zhang, L., Wang, Z., Zhang, Y., … Li, L. (2016). Functional characteristics of the brain in college students with internet gaming disorder. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 10(1), 60–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-015-9364-x
Maraz, A., Király, O., & Demetrovics, Z. (2015). Commentary on: Are we overpathologizing everyday life? A tenable blueprint for behavioral addiction research the diagnostic pitfalls of surveys: If you score positive on a test of addiction, you still have a good chance not to be addicted. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 4(3), 151–154. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.4.2015.026
Maraz, A., Urbán, R., Griffiths, M. D., & Demetrovics, Z. (2015). An empirical investigation of dance addiction. PLoS One, 10(5), e0125988. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0125988
Marks, I. (1990). Behavioural (non-chemical) addictions. British Journal of Addiction, 85(11), 1389–1394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.1990.tb01618.x
Martončik, M., & Lokša, J. (2016). Do world of Warcraft (MMORPG) players experience less loneliness and social anxiety in online world (virtual environment) than in real world (offline)? Computers in Human Behavior, 56, 127–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.11.035
Müller, K. W., Janikian, M., Dreier, M., Wölfling, K., Beutel, M. E., Tzavara, C., … Tsitsika, A. (2015). Regular gaming behavior and internet gaming disorder in European adolescents: Results from a cross-national representative survey of prevalence, predictors, and psychopathological correlates. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 24(5), 565–574. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-014-0611-2
Nilles, J. M. (1982). Exploring the world of the personal computer. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Orosz, G., Tóth-Király, I., Bőthe, B., & Melher, D. (2016). Too many swipes for today: The development of the problematic tinder use scale (PTUS). Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(3), 518–523. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.016
Palaus, M., Marrón, E. M., Viejo-Sobera, R., & Redolar-Ripoll, D. (2017). Neural basis of video gaming: A systematic review. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 248. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00248
Park, S., Jeon, H. J., Son, J. W., Kim, H., & Hong, J. P. (2017). Correlates, comorbidities, and suicidal tendencies of problematic game use in a national wide sample of Korean adults. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 11(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-017-0143-5
Pearcy, B. T. D., McEvoy, P. M., & Roberts, L. D. (2017). Internet gaming disorder explains unique variance in psychological distress and disability after controlling for comorbid depression, OCD, ADHD, and anxiety. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20(2), 126–132. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0304
Petry, N. M., Rehbein, F., Gentile, D. A., Lemmens, J. S., Rumpf, H. J., Mößle, T., … O’Brien, C. P. (2014). An international consensus for assessing internet gaming disorder using the new DSM-5 approach. Addiction, 109(9), 1399–1406. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.12457.
Pontes, H. M. (2017). Investigating the differential effects of social networking site addiction and internet gaming disorder on psychological health. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(4), 601–610. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.075
Pontes, H. M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014). Assessment of internet gaming disorder in clinical research: Past and present perspectives. Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs, 31(2–4), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.3109/10601333.2014.962748
Pontes, H. M., Király, O., Demetrovics, Z., & Griffiths, M. D. (2014). The conceptualisation and measurement of DSM-5 internet gaming disorder: The development of the IGD-20 test. PLoS One, 9(10), e110137. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110137
Pontes, H. M., Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Psychometric assessment of internet gaming disorder in neuroimaging studies: A systematic review. In C. Montag & M. Reuter (Eds.), Internet addiction: Neuroscientific approaches and therapeutical implications including smartphone addiction (pp. 181–208). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
Pontes, H. M., Macur, M., & Griffiths, M. D. (2016). Internet gaming disorder among Slovenian primary schoolchildren: Findings from a nationally representative sample of adolescents. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(2), 304–310. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.042
Przepiorka, A. M., Blachnio, A., Miziak, B., & Czuczwar, S. J. (2014). Clinical approaches to treatment of internet addiction. Pharmacological Reports, 66(2), 187–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharep.2013.10.001
Przybylski, A. K., Weinstein, N., & Murayama, K. (2017). Internet gaming disorder: Investigating the clinical relevance of a new phenomenon. The American Journal Of Psychiatry, 174(3), 230–236. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16020224
Rosenkranz, T., Müller, K. W., Dreier, M., Beutel, M. E., & Wölfling, K. (2017). Addictive potential of internet applications and differential correlates of problematic use in internet gamers versus generalized internet users in a representative sample of adolescents. European Addiction Research, 23(3), 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1159/000475984
Ross, D. R., Finestone, D. H., & Lavin, G. K. (1982). Space invaders obsession. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 248(10), 1177. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1982.03330100017009
Roy, A., & Ferguson, C. J. (2016). Competitively versus cooperatively? An analysis of the effect of game play on levels of stress. Computers in Human Behavior, 56, 14–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.11.020
Schmitt, Z. L., & Livingston, M. G. (2015). Video game addiction and college performance among males: Results from a 1 year longitudinal study. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 18(1), 25–29. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2014.0403
Snodgrass, J. G., Lacy, M. G., Dengah, H. J. F., II, Eisenhauer, S., Batchelder, G., & Cookson, R. J. (2014). A vacation from your mind: Problematic online gaming is a stress response. Computers in Human Behavior, 38, 248–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.06.004
Song, J., Park, J. H., Han, D. H., Roh, S., Son, J. H., Choi, T. Y., … Lee, Y. S. (2016). A comparative study of the effects of bupropion and escitalopram on internet gaming disorder. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 70(11), 527–535. https://doi.org/10.1111/pcn.12429
Soper, W. B., & Miller, M. J. (1983). Junk-time junkies: An emerging addiction among students. School Counselor, 31(1), 40–43.
Starcevic, V., & Aboujaoude, E. (2017). Internet gaming disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addiction. Current Addiction Reports, 4, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-017-0158-7
Strittmatter, E., Kaess, M., Parzer, P., Fischer, G., Carli, V., Hoven, C. W., … Wasserman, D. (2015). Pathological internet use among adolescents: Comparing gamers and non-gamers. Psychiatry Research, 228(1), 128–135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2015.04.029
Terry, A., Szabo, A., & Griffiths, M. D. (2004). The exercise addiction inventory: A new brief screening tool. Addiction Research & Theory, 12(5), 489–499. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066350310001637363
Toril, P., Reales, J. M., & Ballesteros, S. (2014). Video game training enhances cognition of older adults: A meta-analytic study. Psychology and Aging, 29(3), 706–716. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037507
Unsworth, N., Redick, T. S., McMillan, B. D., Hambrick, D. Z., Kane, M. J., & Engle, R. W. (2015). Is playing video games related to cognitive abilities? Psychological Science, 26(6), 759–774. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797615570367
Ustinavičienė, R., Škėmienė, L., Lukšienė, D., Radišauskas, R., Kalinienė, G., & Vasilavičius, P. (2016). Problematic computer game use as expression of internet addiction and its association with self-rated health in the Lithuanian adolescent population. Medicina, 52(3), 199–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medici.2016.04.002
Van den Brink, W. (2017). ICD-11 gaming disorder: Needed and just in time or dangerous and much too early? Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(3), 290–292. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.6.2017.040
Van Rooij, A. J., Kuss, D. J., Griffiths, M. D., Shorter, G. W., Schoenmakers, T. M., & Mheen, D. (2014). The (co-) occurrence of problematic video gaming, substance use, and psychosocial problems in adolescents. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 3(3), 157–165. https://doi.org/10.1556/JBA.3.2014.013
Vasilu, O., & Vasile, D. (2017). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for internet gaming disorder and alcohol use disorder- a case report. International Journal of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 2, 34–38.
Voss, A., Cash, H., Hurdiss, S., Bishop, F., Klam, W. P., & Doan, A. P. (2015). Case report: Internet gaming disorder associated with pornography use. The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 88(3), 319–324.
Vukosavljevic-Gvozden, T., Filipovic, S., & Opacic, G. (2015). The mediating role of symptoms of psychopathology between irrational beliefs and internet gaming addiction. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 33(4), 387–405. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-015-0218-7
Wang, H. R., Cho, H., & Kim, D. J. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of comorbid depression in a nonclinical online sample with DSM-5 internet gaming disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 228, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.005
Wartberg, L., Kriston, L., & Thomasius, R. (2017). The prevalence and psychosocial correlates of internet gaming disorder - analysis in a nationally representative sample of 12- to 25-year-olds. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 114(25), 419–424. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2017.0419
Weinstein, A. (2017). An update overview on brain imaging studies of internet gaming disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8(185). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00185
Weinstein, A., Livny, A., & Weizman, A. (2017). New developments in brain research of internet and gaming disorder. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 75, 314–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.01.040
West, R. (2001). Theories of addiction. Addiction, 96(1), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.96131.x
Westwood, D., & Griffiths, M. D. (2010). The role of structural characteristics in video-game play motivation: A Q-methodology study. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 13(5), 581–585. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2009.0361
Winkler, A., Dörsing, B., Rief, W., Shen, Y., & Glombiewski, J. A. (2013). Treatment of internet addiction: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 33(2), 317–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2012.12.005
Wittek, C. T., Finserås, T. R., Pallesen, S., Mentzoni, R. A., Hanss, D., Griffiths, M. D., & Molde, H. (2015). Prevalence and predictors of video game addiction: A study based on a national representative sample of gamers. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-015-9592-8
Wood, R. (2008). Problems with the concept of video game “addiction”: Some case study examples. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 6(2), 169–178.
World Health Organization. (2018). Gaming disorder. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/features/qa/gaming-disorder/en/
Yeh, C. S. H. (2015). Exploring the effects of videogame play on creativity performance and emotional responses. Computers in Human Behavior, 53, 396–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.07.024
Yen, J. Y., Liu, T. L., Wang, P. W., Chen, C. S., Yen, C. F., & Ko, C. H. (2017). Association between internet gaming disorder and adult attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and their correlates: Impulsivity and hostility. Addictive Behaviors, 64, 308–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.04.024
Yu, H., & Cho, J. (2016). Prevalence of Internet Gaming Disorder among Korean adolescents and associations with non-psychotic psychological symptoms, and physical aggression. American Journal of Health Behavior, 40(6), 705–716. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.40.6.3
Zajac, K., Ginley, M. K., Chang, R., & Petry, N. M. (2017). Treatments for internet gaming disorder and internet Addiction: A systematic review. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors No Pagination Specified-No Pagination Specified. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000315
Zhang, F., & Kaufman, D. (2017). Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) and socio-emotional wellbeing. Computers in Human Behavior, 73, 451–458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.04.008
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Pontes, H.M. (2018). Making the Case for Video Game Addiction: Does It Exist or Not?. In: Ferguson, C. (eds) Video Game Influences on Aggression, Cognition, and Attention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95495-0_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95495-0_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-95494-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-95495-0
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)